Range indicator for multirange recorders



1949 A. E. ANDERSON 2,489, 97

RANGE INDICATOR FOR MULTIRANGE RECORDERS Original Filed March 6, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1949 A. E. ANDERSON 2,489,997

RANGE INDICATOR FOR MULTIRANGE RECORDERS Original Filed March 6, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 f /yd 1N VENTOR. A/ber/E Ana er: 0/7

Nov. 29, 1949 I A. E. ANDERSON 2,439,997

RANGE INDICATOR FOR MULTIRANGE RECORDERS Original Filed March 6, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENT OR.

POWER j "I. fl/berff Arab son A 0 BY.

Patented 7 RANGE INDICATOR FOR M'UL'IIRANGE BECORDERS Albert E. Anderson, Holbrook, Mass assignor, by

meme assignments, to Raytheon in; Company, a corporation of Manufactur- Delaware Original application March 6, 1940, Serial No.

322,557, now Patent No.

2,350,994, dated June 13, 1944. Divided and this application Septembet 8, 1943, Serial No. 501,727

1 2 Claims. (Cl. 177-311) 2 The present application is a division of applidepth, it is necessary to expand the depth calication Serial No. 322,557, filed March 6, 1940, now Patent No. 2,350,994, dated June 13, 1944.

The present invention relates to recording apparatus particularly for recording short time intervals. Still more particularly the present invention relates to recorders for echo distance measurement in which the time interval between the transmission of a wave impulse and the receipt of a reflected impulse is used as a measure of the distance.

The present invention is particularly adapted for recording water depths obtained by the echo sound method but it may also be used for recording other short time intervals.

In echo depth sounding, a compressional wave impulse is transmitted into the water, and the impulse reflected from the ocean or river bottom, as the case may be, is received and caused to effect a marking of a record paper by a stylus which is moved at a uniform speed over the paper. Since the time interval between the transmitted and reflected signal is proportional to the distance travelled by the wave impulse, the time intervals involved are very short, particularly when shallow depths are to be measured. It is therefore necessary that the apparatus operate with a great degree of accuracy and that it maintain this accuracy under service conditions. The present invention provides a construction adapted to this end.

Where the instrument is used for survey work, particularly where very shallow depths may be encountered, the draft of the ship on which the apparatus is installed becomes significant relative to the depth being measured. This may also be true of the condition of the tide when the measurement is made. In order to obtain readings of uniform meaning it is necessary to make suitable corrections for draft and tide. The present invention provides an arrangement whereby corrections for these factors can manually be made in the recorded depth values without the necessity of making individual calculations after the record is made.

Moreover, by means of the present invention, compensation in the recorded distances can also manually be made for the squat of the vessel, which is .the change in draft due to the vessel's speed. Compensation can also be made for primary elevation above sea level or some other datum which often must be taken into account when surveying rivers.

In order to be able to read the depth recorded on the chart accurately over a wide range of brations of the chart. Since the chart width itself is limited,'this is best accomplished by varying the range of depths which can be recorded with a given setting of the instrument. The present invention provides an arrangement for this purpose which can be operated independently of and without disturbing the draft, squat, tide and elevation adjustments.

When surveying shallow depths, such as river bottoms, it is often desirable to be able to differentiate between individual soundings. For this purpose, the record paper is caused. to travel at a relatively high speed. On the other hand, when working over large expanses of water areas, such as in the mouths of large rivers or in ocean areas, extreme detail is not required. Therefore, in order to avoid waste of record paper, the paper may be caused to travel at a much slower speed. The present invention is arranged to provide various paper speeds together with an indicating device for automatically indicating the paper speed which has been selected.

Means is also provided for completely stopping the paper feed without shutting down the recording machine as may be desirable while a survey vessel is proceeding toward a new survey station.

A further feature of the invention provides a positive means for automatically advancing the record paper while at the same time permitting free manual advance of the paper.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of an arrangement whereby a so-called flx" mark can be made across the record paper at any desired instant, for example, when the ship crosses a predetermined position.

A still further feature of the invention provides a non-reversing mounting for the recording stylus-carrying arm whereby damage to the stylus or to the signal transmitting timing system while adjustments are being made is prevented.

The above and other features of the present invention will best be understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of my recording instrument broken away in parts; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line IIII in Fig. 1; Fig. 2a is a partial back elevation of the same device; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the arrangement for advancing the record paper; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 5 is an elevation of a portion of the automatic paper-advance mechanism; Fig. 6 is a partial section along the line VIVI of Fig. Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram of the paper-feed indicating system; Fig. 7a is a perspective view of a portion of the latter; Fig. 8 shows in elevation the recording stylus holder as well as a circuit diagram of the arrangement for producing fix marks; Fig. 9 1s a schematic drawing of a time-recording arrangement; and Fig. shows a schematic diagram of the signal impulse transmitting circuit.

Referring, first, to Figs. 1 and 2, a recording stylus I is arranged to move rapidly at a constant speed over a. record paper 2. The stylus is mounted on an arm 3 fixed by screws 4 to a, cam I which is provided with a central hub 6 by which the cam is mounted on a shaft 1. The cam is held in place on the shaft by ball bearings 8 on the one side and by the shoulder 9 of a knob ID on the other side. The ball bearing 8 is supported in a fixed frame II in which it is held in position by the retaining ring speed motor i3 is also mounted on the frame. The motor shaft I4 carries a worm i5 within a gear box is where the worm meshes with gear I! fixed to the shaft 1. The shaft 1 is further supported by ball bearings i8 mounted in the gear box casing. By this arrangement the cam 5 and therefore the stylus i can be rotated at a constant speed. The cam 5 is substantially circular except for a small cut-away portion i9, as shown in Fig. i, whereby the impulse transmitting contacts are operated. A bracket is fixed to the frame Ii as by screws 2|. This bracket is in the form of a yoke having a central ring-shaped portion 22 which is concentric with the shaft 1. Upon the ring 22 there is mounted a ring gear 23 which is held in place by a retaining ring 24 fastened by screws 26 to an outwardly extending flange formed in the ring 22. To the ring gear there are mounted a plurality of contact-carrying arcuate segments, three of which are shown as 21, 28 and 29. These are fastened to the gear 23 by the screws 30 to 35. The holes through which these screws pass are elongated whereby the angular positions of the arcuate members 2?! to 29 can be adjusted. The members H to 29 carry fixed contacts 36 to 38, respectively, and movable contacts 39 to 4i, respectively. The movable contacts are mounted on arms 42 to 44 pivoted on the members 2? to 29 at 45, 46 and 4'l. The arms 42 to 44 are provided with cam followers 48 to 50, respectively, which are urged against the cam by the springs 5! to 53. While the cam followers are on the high portions of the cam 5, the several sets of contacts are open, but as the cut-away portion of the cam 5 reaches each of the cam followers 48 to 50, its contacts close. It will be noted that the. cut in the cam is radial at the leading edge; hence the contacts are closed very rapidly and wear of the cam does not affect the timing.

'The contacts are connected in circuit with the signal impulse transmitter, for example, an underwater compressional wave transmitter 55 as shown in Fig. 10. interposed in the circuit is a selector switch 54 whereby any one of the three sets of contacts can be selected for the operation of the transmitter 55. Therefore, although each set of contacts is closed once in each rotationof the cam 5, nevertheless only one set of which points to the position indicating sector 54' v on which the diflerent positions such as I, 2 and 3 may be indicated.

Since the position of the ring gear 23 on which thecontacts are mounted must be adjustable, as will hereafter appear, the movable contacts 39, 40 and 4| are insulated from the rest of the apparatus and are connected by brushes I3, I4 and I5 to slip rings l5, "l1 and 18, respectively, which are mounted on a second yoke 19 fastened to the yoke 20. These slip rings (omitted from Fig. 10

'for simplicity) are connected to the three contact studs of the selector switch 54. The stationary contacts 36, 31 and 38 may be grounded to the frame.

Now, it is important that the transmitted signal impulse be sent out at precisely the instant when the stylus I is at the correct angular position with respect to the depth graduations on l2. A constant a the chart. For the first depth range, that is from zero to, say, 75 feet, the cam follower 48 must drop into the cam depression l9 and thereby close the contacts 35, 39 at precisely the instant the stylus i crosses the zero line. In order to make a convenient adjustment for this purpose, the ring gear 23 is engaged by a worm 55 which can be rotated through the flexible shaft 51 by rotating the knob 58. By turning this knob, the relative position of the contacts 35, 39 with respect to a predetermined position of the stylus is changed. Thereby the contacts can be made to close at the instant the stylus is in any predetermined position with respect to the record paper. It may be noted here that by the use of an irreversible motion transmitting system, such as the worm and ring gear shown, the position of the contacts can readily be changed at any time without having to operate any additional locking mechanism. Moreover, a remote control is provided by the flexible shaft so that the ad= justment can be made from the outside of the instrument case. However, since all the con tacts are mounted on the ring gear 23, all of them will be moved angularly together by this adjustment. For the succeeding depth ranges, therefore, the contacts 3'3, 40 and 38, iii must, therefore, be independently angularly adjusted with respect to the contacts 36, 35. This is accomplished by adjusting the relative positions of the segments 21, 28 and 29 by means of the screws 30 to 35. The angular separation between the several sets of contacts can be correctly adjusted during factory assembly and it need not thereafter be disturbed. Zero adjustment for the first depth range will then be effective for all the others. 1

Upon the member 24 there is mounted a scale 59 by means of the screws 60, 6E. The scale carries three sets of graduations 62, 53 and 54. The upper set of graduations 62 is arranged adjacent an index 65 which isfastened to the member 22 and therefore remains fixed in position. The lower sets of graduations 63 and as are adjacent an index 66 which is mounted on an arcuate plate Bl which is similar to the contact-carrying plates 2?, 28 and 29. It is held on the ring gear 23 by a thumb screw 68 which passes through a slotted hole in the plate 67. The angular position of the plate 61 upon the geared disc 23 and contacts is efiective to operate the transmitter 70 therefore the position of the index 56 with redepending upon the position of the switch 56. By this means diiferent depth ranges can be recorded, the position of the switch 54 indicating which section of said range has been selected.

spect to the contacts can be accurately adjusted by a micrometer adjustment. This comprises a post 69 fastened to the plate 57 and having a threaded hole therein adapted to receive an ad- The selector switch 54 has a pointer at one en lusting screw it which is freely journaled in another post II secured to the ring gear 23. By rotating the screw I bymeans of its knurled head I2, the position of the plate 81 with respect to the contacts is thereby altered. Now it will be observed that rotation of the knob 58 and consequently of the ring gear 28 changes the instant of closing of the various transmitting contacts with respect to the stylus position by an amount in depth units indicated by the index 66 on the scales 63 and 64.

Having properly set the contacts for zero position on the chart, the position of the scale-carrying member 59 is adjusted by loosening the screws 60, 6I until zero of the scale 62 is opposite the index 65. By means of the screw 10, the index 66 is set at the zero mark of scales 63 and 64. With this setting, the depth readings on the chart will be in terms of the depth beneath the compressional wave transmitter and receiver.

If the depth of water from the surface be desired, compensation must be made for the draft and squat of the vessel. In other words, to make the record on the chart read directly in terms of depth below the surface, the signal impulse must be sent out after the stylus I has crossed the zero mark by the time required by the stylus to move a distance on the chart equal to the ships draft and squat. To do this, the screws 60 and GI are loosened and the scale 62 is shifted until the proper graduation corresponding to the sum of draft and squat is opposite the index 65. The knob 58 must then be turned until the index 66 is again opposite the zero mark between the scales 63 and 64.

Should it be desired to have the recorded depth read directly in terms of mean sea level, the state of the tide must be taken into account. If the tide is above the mean value, the knob 58 is turned until the index 66 moves to the right of the zero mark to a position on scale 63 corresponding to the height of the tide above the mean value. Similarly, should the tide be below the mean value, the knob 58 is turned in the reverse direction until the index 66 is opposite the graduation on scale 64 corresponding to the amount by which the tide is below the mean value. In the former case, the transmitted signal is emitted at a time, before the stylus crosses the zero line, thereby subtracting a corresponding amount from the depth actually measured; while in the latter case, the reverse is true, whereby the necessary amount is added to the measured value. Thus the recorded values are automatically referred to mean sea level.

In certain types of river surveys, it may be desirable to have a direct record not of the depth of water in the river, but of the height of the river bottom above mean sea level, or other datum. For this purpose the last calibration line on the record paper adjacent the margin at which the stylus leaves the paper is considered as a reference line, instead of the calibration line adjacent the margin at which the stylus starts across the paper, as is the usual case. By rotating the knob 58, the index 66 is then set opposite the graduation on scale 64 which corresponds to the difference between the total chart width in scale units and the known elevation of the river surface above the datum in question. It will be observed that these adjustments for elevation and tide can very easily and frequently be changed and that changing them does not vary the correction previously made for the surveying vessel's draft and squat.

The record paper 2 is preferably of the type having a carbonized or otherwise electrically conductive body with a thin coating thereon adapted to be discolored or burnt away by the passage of an electric current through the paper. The paper 2 is wound on a spool 80, whence it passes over a roller 8|, thence over a marking platen 82 by power supplied by sprocket drum 83 having teeth adapted to engage perforations in the paper, and thence to a take-up spool 84.

The sprocket drum 83 is driven by a ratchet mechanism shown in Fig. 5. A cam 86, whose shaft 81 may be driven by the motor I 3, by means not shown, bears against a roller 89 journaled on a stud 90, which is fastened to one arm of a lever 88 pivoted at 9|. The other arm of the lever 88 is provided with a plurality of studs 92 to 95. A link 96 may be hooked on either of these studs to transmit a greater or lesser degree of motion to the bell crank 91 pivoted at 98. One arm of the bell crank 91 is pivoted to the link 96 at 99. The other arm of the bell crank carries a pawl I00 pivoted at -IOI and urged by a spring I02 against ratchet wheel I03 which is fixed to the shaft 98. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the shaft 98 carries a worm I04 which engages gear wheel I05 which is free to revolve on the shaft I06 fixed to the drum 83. Rotation of the gear I05 is transmitted to the drum 83 by an overrunning clutch mechanism to be described later.

Referring again to Fig. 5, it will be evident that the amount of angular rotation of the sprocket wheel I03 is determined by the particular stud on the lever 88 to which-the link 96 has been connected. The stud 92 gives the least motion and therefore the slowest paper feed while the stud 95 gives the greatest motion and the fastest paper feed. As previously mentioned, the choice of paper feed depends upon the detail it is desired to have visible on the record obtained. In order, however, to have an indication at all times of the rate of the paper feed, the studs 92 to 95 are insulated from the lever 88, the construction being as shown in Fig. 6. The apertures in the lever 88 for the several studs are made larger than the diameters of the studs so that insulating material I01 can be interposed. The studs are held in position in the lever 88 by a shoulder I08, a washer I09 and nut H0. The end of each stud has a second shoulder I II forming between it and the shoulder I08 a groove into which the end of link 96 may be fitted. The end of link 96 is provided with a keyhole aperture II2 so that it may be slipped over the shoulder III on any one of the studs 92 to 95 without adjustment of any kind. For this purpose a spring 96' is provided which is fastened to a stud 91' projecting from the link 96. The other end of the spring 96 is fixed to the frame by means of the projecting bar 98' which carries a pin to which the spring is fastened. This spring exerts pressure on the link 96, holding the link 96 and the rocker bar 88 coupled to one another without any lost motion.

As shown in Fig. '7, each of the studs 92 to 95 is electrically connected to one of four indicating lamps II3 to H6, respectively, whose other terminals are connected to one terminal of a battery or other power source II 1. The circuit is completed through ground to the link 96. Therefore, only one of the lamps I I3 to I I6 will be il1u I minated, depending upon the particular stud to which the link 96 is at the moment connected. The lamps II3 to H6 may be employed to illuminate separate portions of a translucent screen I62 bearing numerals indicating the rate of paper feed in inches per minute, as shown, in example,

some? in Fig. 7a. By this means an automatic and remote indication of the rate of paper feed is obtained.

Referring again to Fig. 5, an arrangement is provided for completely stopping the paper feed but without stopping the driving motor I3 or any of the other portions of the apparatus. This comprises an electromagnet II8 mounted on the bell crank 91 in proximity to the pawl I00. The magnet I I8 is connected in circuit with a battery or other power source H8 and a switch I20.

When the switch I20 is closed,- the electromagnet II8 is energized so that it attracts the pawl I00, preventing the latter from engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel I03 and preventing the auto- 15 matic mechanism from advancing the paper.

In order to permit free manual advance of the record paper at all times, an overrunning clutch, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is provided. As above described, automatic advance of the paper is obtained through the worm 98 which drives the gear I05. The latter has mounted near its periphery a block I2I held by screws I22. The block I2I has a conical hole I23 and is slotted at its upper portion at I24. A disc I25 having a hub I26 fastened to the shaft I06 of the sprocket drum 83 projects into the hole I23 through the slot I24. On the two sides of the disc I25 within the hole are two hardened steel balls I21 held in place by through the record paper, thereby making a nmrk.

It will be noted that the stylus is mounted-at a relatively small angle with the paper surface, namely about 30 degrees. The stylus arm should therefore not be rotated backwards, for if this were done, it would be likely to tear the paper and bend the s ylus. Moreover, backward rotation of the contact-operating cam 5 must also be avoided because of the shape of the cut I3 in the cam and of the cam followers which might thereby be broken. To prevent such backward rotation, the shaft 1 has an overrunning clutch I64 mounted on the end of the shaft. The inner element of the clutch is keyed to the shaft 1; while the outer element is fixed to the frame of the o instrument. As shown in Fig. 2a, the clutch may,

oifective and simple, since other than the drilling and tapping of the holes for the screws I66, I61, no machine work need be done.

In order to indicate on the record the instant the survey ship passes a predetermined position retaining members I28 fastened to the block I2I. 30 on t course, t is desimme t be able readily Rotation of the gear I05 rotates the block I2I in such a direction as to cause the balls I21 to move toward the small end of the hole I23 and thereby.v

to engage the disc I25. This causes the latter to rotate with the gear 'I 05-and thereby to drive the drum 83. On the other hand, manual rotation of the knob -I 28, which is fastened to the drum shaft I06, rotates the disc I25 so as to cause the balls I 21 to move towards the large end of the hole I23, thereby permitting free rotation of the drum 83 so that the paper can be advanced freely by hand. By this construction the use of a friction clutch in the paper driving mechanism is avoided and knob I28 may easily be turned. Moreover, drum 83 is driven positively by gear I05. I

The marking stylus itself together with its holder is shown enlarged in elevation in Fig. 8. The stylus I which may consist of a steel or other hard, electrically conducting wire is removably held in a clutch or vise I30 controlled by thumb nut I63 which is fixedto an arm I3I pivoted at I32 in a U-shaped bracket I33 which is securedto the rotating arm 3 by the screws I 34 (visible in Fig. 2). The stylus and of the arm I3I is urged against the record paper 2 as it travels over the platen 82 by means of a spring I35, the tension of the spring being adjustable by means of the screw I36. The operating circuit for the stylus includes the receiver amplifier I31 which supplies the primary I38 of a voltage step-up transformer. The secondary winding I39 of this transformer has one end grounded, the other end being connected to one stationary contact I40 of a singlepole, double-throw relay I4I'having a movable contact I42 and an operating coil I43. When the coil I43 is not energized, contacts I40 and I42 are closed. Contact I42 is connected to terminal I44 on the stylus holderthrough a brush (not shown) which bears against slip ring I65 (Fig. 2). Terminal I44 is connected to the movable stylus arm I3I by the flexible lead I45. The entire stylus to make a distinguishing mark or fix on the record paper. For this purpose the operating coil I43 of relay MI is energized from the battery or other power source E41 by closing the key I48.

5 This causes the movable contact I42 to move .toward the relay coil and connect with contact I49 which is connected to battery or other power source I50 and thence to ground. During the transit of the stylus I over the record paper, the

40 current, therefore, passes from the stylus through the paper so long as the key I48 is depressed. By this means the stylus can be made to make a mark completely across the paper when the key I48 is closed.

as In survey work from a moving vessel it is frequently necessary to take note of the ship's position. This may be done by noting the ships bearing with respect to fixed objects whose position is known. In order to be able subsequently to iden- 60 tify such records of the ships position from time 'to time, it is desirable to have a time indication on the record chart. This is accomplished as shown in Fig. 9. A secondary stylus I5I supported from a spring I52 and an insulating block I53 mounted on the platen 82 produces short marks I54 near the margin of the record paper by means of the circuit shown in Fig. 9. A cam wheel I55 driven by a clock mechanism periodically closes contacts I56 which are connected in a series circult containing battery or other power source I51 and operating coil I58 of a relay I59. Closing of contacts I56 closes relay contacts I60 which apply voltage from a battery or other power source I6I between stylus I5I and platen 82,

whereby definite predetermined time intervals are automatically recorded on the record paper. Since the length of these marks varies with the paper speed in use at the time, the paper speed is also automatically indicated.

Having now described my invention, I claim.

1. In a depth sounding recorder, a record paper-advancing mechanism including a lever arm oscillating about a pivot, a paper-advancing drum, a ratchet and pawl mechanism for rotatthr h he r c r p r 2 to h platen B and 15 ing said drum, a link for transmitting motion from said arm to said ratchet and pawl mechanism, means for selectively connecting said link to various positions on said arm, a plurality of electrically conductive studs insulatedly mounted on said arm one at each of said positions, said studs being adapted to engage said link, and means including an electric circuit adapted to be completed by said link and a stud for indicating the position selected.

2. In a depth sounding recorder, a record paperadvancing mechanism including a lever arm oscillating about a pivot, a paper-advancing drum, a ratchet and pawl mechanism for rotating said drum, 9. link for transmitting motion from said arm to said ratchet and pawl mechanism, a plurality of electrically conductive studs mounted on said arm at various distances from its pivot but insulated from said arm, said studs being adapted selectively to engage said link, a plurality of electrically operated indicators including a plurality of lamps, a power source and circuit means connecting each of said lamps to one of said studs and to said power source and said link such that the circuit or any indicator will be closed only by contact of said link with its corresponding stud.

ALBERT E. ANDERSON.

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